In my book it’s always champagne time! I learned this one evening when we met our good friends, Max and Shari, for cocktails at their Texas home.

It was any ordinary evening; just a Saturday going out. We knocked on their door and they greeted us with a bottle of their favorite champs from the Schramsberg Vineyard in Napa Valley. And this was before you could get it in the liquor stores or before wine of the month was mailed (legally) to any household here in Texas. So as you might imagine, and in my mind, this was super special.

I said, “Champagne in the late afternoon?” See, I had only had cheap champagne and only on special occassions. Shari, more surprised than me, responded, “But of course, why not?”

And why not, indeed! We drained the bottle merrily!

Now it’s your turn. This is a super holiday (and remember - anytime) champagne cocktail. Simple to make, refreshing and a lighter alternative to other boozy cocktails.

You need only make a simple syrup with star anise and buy a bottle of your favorite champagne.